Research Areas

Infections and Immunoepidemiology Branch

Investigators in the Infections and Immunoepidemiology Branch (IIB) conduct multidisciplinary studies, both in the U.S. and abroad, with the goal of clarifying the relationship of infectious agents, especially viruses, to human cancer and other conditions. Examples of infectious agents include: oncogenic viruses, Helicobacter pylori, Plasmodium falciparum, and the human microbiome of the oropharynx and gut.

In addition to infectious agents, investigators are evaluating the role of immunity in cancer development. IIB houses the large, community-based Costa Rica HPV 16/18 Vaccine Trial, which is designed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the HPV 16/18 virus-like particle vaccine and to examine other factors of etiological and immunologic relevance.